United States based multinational technology company Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) confirmed that it investigated allegations suggesting the company’s founder Bill Gates had some involvement with an employee of company.
This incidence is suspected to have occurred around 20 years ago however Microsoft came to hear of it in 2019. After the rumors started making rounds, the company set up an ad hoc committee to probe into the matter.
“A committee of the Board reviewed the concern, aided by an outside law firm to conduct a thorough investigation. Throughout the investigation, Microsoft provided extensive support to the employee who raised the concern,” said the spokesperson of the company.
According to an article published on Wall Street Journal, the committee of the board concluded that Gates’ involvement with the said employee was inappropriate and that Bill Gates needed to step down in 2020.
The spokesperson however failed to disclose whether the company had fully resolved that Bill Gates should leave the board.
“There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably. Bill’s decision to transition off the board was in no way related to this matter. In fact, he had expressed an interest in spending more time on his philanthropy starting several years earlier,” added the spokesperson.
